Going vegan: News-Review reporter embarks on new lifestyle journey

Former President Bill Clinton, once known for his fast-food diet, looks a bit different these days.

After adopting a mainly vegan diet in 2010, Clinton has slimmed down, shed pounds and improved his overall health.

“Since 1986, several hundred people who have tried essentially a plant-based diet, not ingesting any cholesterol from any source, have seen their bodies start to heal themselves — break up arterial blockage, break up the calcium deposits around the heart. Eighty-two percent of the people who have done this have had this result, so I want to see if I can be one of them,” Clinton has said of his adopted lifestyle.

Being a vegan means not consuming any animal products or by-products. All meats, dairy, eggs, seafood, and even for many, honey, are off limits. Instead, vegans focus their diet around whole foods, including fresh produce, grains, legumes and soy.

Clinton, who was voted as one of Time Magazines’s most influential people of the year in 2010, has influenced me.

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From July 1 of this year to Oct. 1, I am going vegan. I will follow a vegan diet and report my progress on the first and third Tuesdays of the month in the Health and Science section of the News-Review. And on that following Friday, I will discuss vegan recipes and vegan cooking tips I’ve discovered during my three-month journey.

I figure three months is long enough to see measurable health results. Plus, three months, while it might not seem all that long, is long enough to challenge me mentally and allow me to develop new and healthier habits.

As the health and food reporter for the News-Review, I have met a number of local residents who have adopted a vegan lifestyle and their stories are pretty amazing. All have different reasons why they’ve turned to a plant-based diet, and with this series, I’ll be able to share some of their stories, tips and experiences with readers.

In addition, some local restaurant owners have told me they’ve also noticed a trend of more people asking for vegan options when dining out, meaning this is a movement that is happening locally.Finally, and most importantly, now that I’m in my 30s, I’ve realized I may be the not-so-lucky recipient of some unwanted health issues, possibly passed down from family members.

My paternal grandfather died of a heart attack in his 40s. My maternal grandfather suffered a heart attack in his mid-50s, survived, and later went on to have bypass surgery.

My parents, now in their 60s, are healthy and active, but need a little help controlling their own numbers.My father is currently on both blood pressure and cholesterol lowering drugs, while my mother also takes medication for cholesterol.

While I have focused on a healthy, whole foods diet for the past eight years, run 20-30 miles a week and believe I live a healthier lifestyle than most Americans, I still worry about my future. I am carrying some unwanted pounds leftover from having my son in 2009 and I know there’s always room for improvement. So if making some changes in my lifestyle means a longer, happier life, I’m willing to take the challenge.

I also feel that as Americans, in general, we need to have a more open dialogue about our diet and where our food is coming from. The fast food and convenience of packaged snacks has without doubt, created a health crisis in our country. So by moving to a plant-based diet, avoiding animal products for three months and being open and honest about my results, I hope to open up that dialogue here in our community.

While most lose weight on a vegan diet, weight loss generally isn’t always the goal, nor is it mine. Instead, I am focusing on what I feel will be a better, more long-term benefit — lowering my blood pressure and cholesterol levels and even doing my part to help the environment.

According to the American Dietetic Association, vegetarians and vegans have lower rates of heart disease, cancer, diabetes, obesity and other health-related problems. In addition, several studies have shown that a vast majority of all cancers, cardiovascular diseases and other forms of degenerative illness can be prevented by adopting a plant-based diet.

I waited until the summer months to begin this vegan journey, a time when Michigan summer produce is at its peak, in the hopes that other readers will be encouraged to take their own challenge.

Some, like me, will jump head first into veganism. Others, take a slower approach, taking time to phase out certain foods. Some use a moderation approach, focusing primarily on a plant-based diet, but also occasionally eating dairy, seafood and meat. It’s all about what works for the individual.

I know I will probably slip up — I’ll give in to my milk chocolate craving once or twice, may even indulge in a cheeseburger, but in the end I know I’ll feel better and will better my chances at cutting health care costs down the road. And we’ll see where I stand after three months.I hope you will join me.